Contacts vs. Glasses - The AUMnibus

BY: Kaleria Jackson

I have been wearing glasses since I was six years old, and I rely on them for everything. I have also been wearing contacts since I was 14 years old. I have been relying on corrective lenses for years, and so have many other people. Most people have a hard time trying to decide which corrective lenses are better for them.

There are pros and cons to wearing both contacts and glasses. Most are not mentioned when purchasing contacts or glasses. Here is a shortlist of the pros and cons of each.

Contacts

Pros

Contacts conform to the curvature of your eye, providing a wider field of view and causing fewer vision distortions and obstructions than eyeglasses.
Contact lenses don’t get in the way when playing sports and exercising.
Contact lenses won’t clash with what you’re wearing.

Cons

Some people have trouble applying a contact lens to their eyes.
Contacts reduce the amount of oxygen reaching your eye.
Some people may get eye infections after touching their eyes multiple times.
If you work at a computer often, wearing contact lenses will likely contribute to symptoms of computer vision syndrome.

Glasses

Pros

Wearing glasses reduces the need to touch your eyes, which in turn reduces the likelihood of irritating your eyes or developing an eye infection.
If you have dry or sensitive eyes, glasses won’t enhance the problem like contact lenses.
Eyeglasses are generally cheaper than contact lenses over the long term.
Glasses offer some protection from wind, dust, and debris.

Cons

Some people don’t like how they look in glasses.
Some glasses have lenses that may be thick and unappealing.
Eyeglasses can be affected by the elements — your vision can be obstructed or blurred by precipitation collecting on your lenses or when they fog up in cold weather.
Some frames can exert constant pressure on your nose and behind your ears, leading to headaches and general discomfort.

In a poll of 13 people, five glasses-wearers reported wearing them because they are more convenient and comfortable than contacts. On the other hand, people that prefer contacts wear them due to the convenience of contacts and the annoyance of glasses. For instance, student Alexandria Henry likes to wear her contacts due to being active during the day.

Many people that wear contacts and glasses have even considered getting Lasik eye surgery. Student Tatyana Lipscomb said, “I would so I won’t be blind anymore, but I’ll be too scared something would go wrong so probably not.” Alumna Priscilla Jackson got Lasik eye surgery, but after ten years her eyesight started to become blurry again. “I had to go back to wearing glasses after 10 years because you have to get a check-up surgery and I decided not to get it,” Jackson said.

After hearing the pros and cons of both contacts and glasses, which corrective lens is better for you?

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